Research Skills and Project Design - ENV00048I
Module summary
This residential fieldtrip (with a York-based alternative for those who cannot or do not wish to travel) introduces students to a range of data collection and analysis techniques, and provides students with first-hand experience of working within a team to design a research project that addresses a well-defined problem or knowledge gap.
Module will run
Occurrence | Teaching period |
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A | Semester 2 2023-24 |
Module aims
This field trip will provide students with an understanding of the natural, anthropogenic, developmental and sustainability challenges faced within a field trip location, and considers how different stakeholders within these locations may perceive and react to these issues in different ways. Working within small teams, the module will provide students with an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of a range of data collection and analysis techniques including field sampling, qualitative and quantitative methods, assessment techniques, and the application of analytical tools. These skills are vital in order to become competent with assessing, understanding and dealing with environmental and geographical problems.
The module will provide a firm foundation for the third year dissertation or MEnv dissertations and teach students how to obtain and utilise information from primary and secondary sources. The course will enable the development of analytical, problem-solving and team-working skills, as well as allowing the application of related theoretical knowledge and developing the skills needed to present and justify an original research design.
Module learning outcomes
Subject content aims:
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Develop knowledge of a range of field-based research methods and forms of data analysis, and enable students to choose between different research methods in order to address a defined question or problem
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Develop the skills needed to identify different stakeholders within the study location and recognise that these different stakeholders may have conflicting views
Academic and employability skills aims:
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Develop team working skills
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Develop skills in data synthesis, collection, handling and analysis
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Develop communication skills, specifically the ability to present the rationale for a proposed course of action and to justify the proposed methodology
Module content
The open exam assessment element for this module will consist of individual, hour-long open exams occurring on three of the days of the field trip
Indicative assessment
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Open Examination | 30 |
Oral presentation/seminar/exam | 70 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
Task | % of module mark |
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Online Exam - 24 hrs (Centrally scheduled) | 30 |
Oral presentation/seminar/exam | 70 |
Module feedback
Oral feedback on presentations; written feedback on presentations and open exam within standard feedback turnaround time
Indicative reading
None